To be miserable about how badly i smell?

[fireworksinthesky3]

Hey

name changed but longtime poster

really hoping this post resonates with someone and I can get some advice or help 🤞

bit of an embarrassing problem but I smell really badly and don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything I can possibly think of to fix it and it’s not helped. I’ve heard of things like fish odour syndrome but I don’t think it’s that because I don’t smell of fish- I just smell really musty/BO. It’s genuinely making me so depressed- I’m only 26 and I’m so embarrassed and miserable about it. I’ll post below everything I’ve tried

• I shower every single day without fail, I tried showering twice a day but it made no difference whatsoever. At first I smell fine, then after a few hours I smell musty/BO/as if I haven’t even showered in days

• I’ve tried every single combination of deoderant/antipersperant I could access. Mitchum was highly recommended but wasn’t any help disappointingly, in fact I think I smelled worse with it. Right now I’m using dove stick which is bearable but not great either. As I said above- fine at first, then after a few hours I smell again , badly enough to be noticeable by other people

• I’ve tried every shower gel, scrub, body wash, lotion, soap (bar and liquid), even tried using dettol soap- no difference. I shave every 2nd day.

• i wash my hair every 2-3 days, I change my bedding every week without fail

• i wondered if it was possibly my clothes which smelled rather than me so I got rid of EVERYTHING, and started all over again (new underwear, new pjs, completely new clothes etc) but same problem literally no difference

the only thing I can think of that I haven’t tried is the Driclor range which I’m going to try and I’m praying it works. I’ve always had this problem- I remember being so embarrassed about it as a teenager. It’s definitely not something I’m just paranoid about either- I’ve asked my friends / family to be completely honest with me and they’ve agreed with me. I don’t have any hormonal problems and sweat like a normal person as far as I’m aware but for some reason I just smell so much quicker than the average person

does anyone have any tips or product recommendations I could try (in case driclor doesn’t work)?

sorry for the long post, I’m just so down about it x

Was also going to suggest this, I had issues with sweating and smelling when I was on my period and since I’ve used fussy I’ve not had these problems

I know this is tricky when you're young and you might not have much spare cash but I bet it is the materials you're wearing. You are mentioning cheaper brands that use a lot of man made materials. Some of them are impossible to get a smell out of once it's in unless you wash a t 90 which can destroy them. They also make you perspire more easily because your skin can't breathe at all.

You might have to only wear cotton, silk, linen and wool. This is expensive but it will make a massive difference. I'm I perimenopause now and have started to smell more and some of my old clothes I simply can't wear without stinking halfway through the day.

Also don't use gel in your washing machine - always use powder, plus a strong fabric conditioner to bring a nice scent.

Do see your GP. They can definitely help you work out what's going on.

The clothes you buy from New Look, River Island etc might be the problem. They often are polyester and that can really make Under arms smell and often trapped in fabrics even after washing.
You basically need cotton everything- Primark do cotton u just have to check.

I have to only buy cotton and wool now as noticed this in myself.

I wash my underarms and feet with Hibiscrub. It makes a huge difference, particularly to the feet. Also, as others have said, check to see if it’s a sinus or ear infection.

Do you still smell if you are naked?

Try staying nude after washing on a day off - see if the same smell appears. If it does, you know it's you, not your clothes. If not, it's a laundry issue of some kind!

I would think drinking lots of water could only help. What exercise do you take - brisk walking or even a run. Get your blood pumping and some deep breathing - it would make me feel I was clearing my system. Home for a nice shower.

Sorry I haven’t read the whole thread. What is your diet like? The older I’m getting, the more I’m releasing that our diet really can contribute to or cause a lot of health conductions. Just a thought…! Do you eat a lot of UPF? Or is it mainly whole foods etc.

Do you have a milk or dairy allergy?
My daughter was really bad as a toddler for smelling of bo despite being bathed regularly.
After researching lots this was the conclusion.

If not then it could be something diet related, maybe try get one of those allergy testing done via Groupon

Hot wash (over 40, ideally 60)

I would wash my hair more often and likely change sheets more often if I'd noticed a smell.

Antibacterial soap with an exfoliating mitt

The natural deodorant company, stopped me smelling entirely when k smelt during breastfeeding

Try glycolic acid toner. Rub some on your armpits after a shower. It removes the smell of sweat. The ordinary do one

https://theordinary.com/en-gb/glycolic-acid-7-exfoliating-toner-100418.html?dwvar_100418_size=int100ml&quantity=1&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAu8W6BhC-ARIsACEQoDA8c7-CkEtYNYhb3Xu1Ei2dGQ5ZYBnd_hZwdzFcccERipeiRtUtcU8aAhNXEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Only wear natural fabrics - so cotton, wool - no polyester or other acrylic fabrics.

Make sure you wash your clothes with biological (not non bio) powder or washing tablets, then make sure they’re thoroughly dried and don’t smell musty when you put them away. Do you have an outdoor clothes line and/or a tumble drier?

If you think it’s you, not the clothes, maybe see your GP?

Do you eat alot of one thing in particular? Could be something your eating

If it's your clothes trying washing them with a capful of disinfectant in the wash. I often do this as we don't wash clothes on such high temperatures any more. You don't need expensive stuff, and the smell of the disinfectant doesn't linger, but I find it does get rid of odours.
And dry thoroughly in the tumble dryer.

@fireworksinthesky3 are you sure you actually smell and this isn't an anxiety/psychological issue?

Has anybody else confirmed they can smell it too?

Clothing hanging around drying DEFINITELY can smell musty.

One can't beat a good bright windy sunny day for making laundry smell fresh - sun dried, sheets cracking in the wind- they smell gorgeous.

I don't use fabric conditioner either.

I have definitely smelled mustiness on people and always assume it's their clothes.

Hello, I remembered a similar post to yours a few years back and it made me look it up again.

There is a condition called Trimethylaminuria that may be worth reading up on.

This organisation offers support and a helpline: https://metabolicsupportuk.org/condition/trimethylaminuria/

Good luck x

Are you wearing clean clothes every day?

Underwear, t shirt etc. Anything that's next to your skin needs to be clean on every day.

Unless you're very active in which case you may need to change more frequently.

I used persimmon soap when I had issues like this due to menopause, it neutralises the nonenal odour

Cottom feels cold and chill against the skin at this time of year- Merino wool is warm and lovely, but expensive .

Acrylic can definitely hold a pong- to do with bacteria {I googled}

My Whippet's natural wool bedding doesn't smell, but her acrylic blanket needs frequent washing as it smells of her popcorn feet otherwise.

How hairy are you? My husband suffers a bit bit often the smell is in his armpit hair and not on his skin as it seems to hold onto bacteria. And weird question but what is your earwax like? My husband has very thick oily wax and I barely have any and it’s dry - apparently it is a thing that there is an association with earwax and body odour.

A few thoughts:

1. Wear 100% cotton only underwear
2. Use an anti bacterial soap when showering and a flannel (irish spring soap is a good one and wont dry your skin)
3. Take a very high quality probiotic like Symprove - when your good bacteria is out of balance it causes bad bactreria to thrive
4. Look at your diet - is there lots of health veg/fibre etc, do you have food intolerances etc
5. Definitely look into your clothes not getting fully dry quick enough- that causes a horrible smell of musty dampness

So it all be the type of bacteria you can smell.

wash your armpits with soap ad shave them so less surface area for bacteria o grow. Then use ‘salt of the earth’ deodorant.
its a salt stick that you wet to apply and it creates a salty environment that the bacteria cannot grow in. It really is the best one I’ve used out of normal sprays etc.

next thing- make sure you shower and apply before bed too. And have fresh pyjamas. Shower and soap in morning, reapply deodorant. Then I would use some dusting powder from lush (talc free) on your torso to keep it dry. Wear natural fibres so they breathe.

also consider whether there is a hormonal change going on coz they can make you smell eg when you’re postpartum you smell differently.

fresh clothes every day including bra. And dry clothes in a tumble dryer so they aren’t musty. I use white vinegar as fabric softener to keep musty smell out.
also I’d clean out your wardrobe with white vinegar and check you haven’t got some damp in it/behind it which is going on your clothes and then smelling during day. Pop in those mini dehumidifiers.

Random one but do you vape? Or take any form of nicotine? I’ve heard that can really mess up your sweat glands and make you sweat a lot more than normal.

Are you overweight? It could be you aren’t cleaning in between any folds of skin or drying them properly.

Washing clothes and not drying them properly is likely to be a factor.
Make sure your bedding and towels are clean.

I wondered that. Do look at your diet, op, everything we eat and drink comes out in our sweat. I know you said you don't sweat excessively but everyone sweats somewhat. Do you consume a lot of red meat, for example. In years gone by it was part of a staple diet, even in school dinners, and people often did smell strongly, 'gamey', including those who kept themselves, their hair and clothes, very clean.

It has also occurred to me that you may not smell as badly as you think. There is a condition called, "Olfactory reference syndrome (ORS)", in which people believe they smell badly even though others did not perceive any smell. Has anyone else told you you smell? I know nobody likes to tell someone that but I think if you have people in your life with whom you are close, you could ask and they would be honest because they'd see how distressed you are. Please do that.

I do feel for you and hope you find a solution.